Seedless fruiting mulberry

ABSTRACT

A new variety of fruiting mulberry tree, having a dense small growth habit and producing large, tender, juicy fruits, almost black in color, and almost free of seeds; bears from June 1 to August 25 in southern California; and fruit develops on current season&#39;s growth.

This invention relates to a new variety of fruiting mulberry tree of theMorus migra species (or a closely related species), which bears almostseedless fruit, which, at maturity, is almost black in color. It is asummer bearer, fruiting from about June 1 to about August 25, insouthern California. Its hardiness has not yet been tested.

A large fruited mulberry tree, growing wild in a country of SouthAmerica, attracted the notice of a friend of the inventor of the presentvariety. The friend imported one of the trees and planted it in anursery in southern California. The fruit of the imported tree, and itshabit of growth seemed even more desirable than the native stock. Theinventor secured permission of the owner of the imported tree to plantsome of its seeds. One of those seeds grew. A scion of that survivingseedling was grafted by the inventor, applicant herein, to root stock ofthe Hicks Mulberry, and it is the tree so produced which is the subjectof the present description. The imported tree was destroyed when theland on which it was growing was sold, but the comparison comments beloware based on observations made when the parent tree was still available.The major differences between the new variety and the imported treerest, inter alia, on the fact that fruits of the present variety have astronger and more vinous flavor, when fully ripe, and their skins aremore tender. In addition, the new variety is almost seedless, whereasfruits of the imported tree have a somewhat larger complement of seedsthan the tree claimed herein. The growth habit of the new variety ismore compact and its foliage more dense than in the ancestral variety.The new variety produces fruits which are at least as large as those ofthe imported tree.

In comparison with other mulberry trees known in this region, which tendto provide small fruit (1" or less) over a period of about 4 to 6 weeks,this new mulberry produces notably larger fruit (1" to 2") which ripensover a substantially longer time period (approximately 10 weeks). Thefruit of this new mulberry is seedless or nearly so, and the seeds whichdo form usually contain aborted embryos. Thus, unlike most othermulberries which produce viable seeds in their fruits which develop intooften-unwanted new trees, this new cultivar generally does not producenew plantlets from seed. The tree itself is considerably more compact inits growth habit than most fruiting mulberries, and at maturity, iscomparatively dwarf in ultimate height.

The accompanying drawings show, in full color, a pair of representativeleaves of the new variety, and a fruit cluster, with leaves, in whichmay be seen the color changes as the fruit forms, grows and matures. Inthe description that follows, color designations beginning with smallletters are used where the common term is aptly descriptive, whereascolor designations beginning with capital letters are values taken fromthe Nickerson Colour Fan put out by Munsell Color Company.

TREE

The tree is of small to medium height for mulberries. It isupright-spreading in habit, usually growing somewhat wider than itsheight; a 30 year old tree being about 25 feet high and having a trunkof about 12 to 15 inches in diameter and a spread of about 30 feet. Itis very dense and compact. Hardiness is as yet untested. It regularlyproduces very large crops of fruit.

Trunk: The tree is moderately stocky, with moderately rough bark.

Branches: The branches are also moderately stocky, with relatively shortinternodes and with some small corky lenticels. The color is betweenStrong Brown, 2.5 YR 4/7, and brownish gray.

New shoots: New shoots are moderately pubescent. Their color is betweenModerate Yellowish Brown, 10 YR 4/4, and Strong Brown, 2.5 YR 4/7.

Leaves: The leaves are simple, broadly cordate and often with acuspidate apex. They are moderately thick and leathery, semi-glossy onthe upper surface and lightly pubescent on the undersurface. Theirmargins are coarsely serrate. The leaf size is from medium to large,ranging from about 4" to 53/4" in length and from about 33/4" to 63/4"in width. The leaf color on its upper surface is between Dark YellowishGreen, 10 GY 4/5, and Dark Yellowish Green, 2.5 G 3/3; on its lowersurface it is between Moderate Yellowish Green, 5 GY 5/6, and ModerateOlive Green, 7.5 GY 4/4.

Flowers: The flowers are non-showy and of medium size. Light greenishyellow catkins appear, usually singly, at leaf axils after new growthbreaks dormancy. This is generally in the months of April and May inOntario, Calif.

FRUIT

The fruit is abundant. It develops on the current season's growth, andripens from approximately June 1 to approximately August 25 in Ontario,Calif.

The size, when eating ripe (in mid-July in Ontario, Calif.) is from 1 to2 inches in length and approximately 3/4" in diameter irrespective oflength.

The immature fruit is between pale yellowish green (a color value notpresent on the Nickerson Color Fan) and Pale Orange Yellow, 7.5YR9/4,varying through colors near Vivid Red, 5R5/13, and Dark Red, 2.5R3/7, asthe fruit approaches maturity. The mature fruit is nearly black --significantly deeper than any color value found on the Nickerson ColorFan.

The shape is that of an oblong syncarp or fleshy compound fruit. Theflower pistils persist on the ripe fruit as insignificant short, drypubescent threads.

The receptacle is a long, narrow, stem-like organ, medium tender wheneaten.

The skin is tender and translucent. The color appears the same as theflesh color.

The flesh is very juicy. The color gradually changes from a paleyellowish green through varying shades of red to nearly black as thefruit becomes eating ripe.

The seeds vary in number from a few to none at all. They are small, witha relatively soft seed coat practically undiscernable when the fruit iseaten. The few seeds that may develop in the fruits usually containaborted embryos.

The flavor is tart-sweet and strong. It is somewhat vinous when blackand fully ripe and is of good eating quality.

The keeping quality is poor, as a fresh fruit but excellent frozen,canned or in preserves.

The use is dessert, culinary and canning.

Its resistance to insects and diseases is good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of fruiting mulberry tree,substantially as herein illustrated and described, said variety beingcharacterized in the large size and flavorful quality of its fruits,which are substantially seedless and of a blackish color when ripe, saidtree ripening over a notably longer time span than most mulberries underparallel conditions, said tree being additionally characterized in itsrelatively compact and small habit of growth.